Anyone take an early morning flight with a toddler???

[Melissa&Shawn]

So apparently DH and I were thinking we were still child-free and booked the early morning flight to Orlando for our trip in a week and a half. Our flight is at 7:30am....the time our daughter usually wakes UP! The flight cost us $200 a ticket, and a change fee is $150 so we are going to keep it. The night before, I am planning to put her to bed in her outfit for the next day (sweats so it is comfortable) so we just need to change her diaper for the 4:30am pick up time to get to the airport. And hoping she sleeps in the car. And HOPING to put her chest facing in the Ergo for the airport so she may still sleep. Not sure what to do in security, hoping she will stay asleep as I carry her through. I know it will throw off her schedule but we are going to be fleixble to what she needs. Anyone else do this? Any advice?

 

[Melissa&Shawn]

I should mention she will be 23.5 months old. Very adaptable, yet independant (not sure if that makes sense but that describes her!).

 

[Mommee]

My youngest has flown the early flight 3 different times, and all I can say is that we were silly to think that she would fall back asleep in the car

Aside from some crankiness when we woke her up to go the airport, she did fine. By the time we were settled in on the flight she'd be exhausted and promptly fall asleep.

 

[Disneychix]

I agree with the previous poster, don't try to make her stay asleep or fall back to sleep right away. Wait till you are actually on the plane and it'll make for an easier plane ride.

We've taken that early flight 3 times with DS. He's done wonderfully each time. It's a little sad waking him up cause of all the nights we spent praying he would sleep all night! But once he was up he was pretty easygoing. We gave him breakfast at the airport and when it was time to get on the plane he was mellowed out and asleep within 1/2 hour.

Good luck!!

 

[marymac123]

I agree w/Mommee-we have done a 6:45am flight-don't bother till you get on the plane.

 

[Melissa&Shawn]

Thanks! I was hoping she would still sleep but now I realize maybe I shouldn't worry since she will probably be up anyway. And yeah, I guess sleeping on the plane would be better...much better. Thanks!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

We always take an early flight. She sounds a lot like DS, he is very independent and has always been a really good flyer. It is actually good to keep them up the whole time. We get to our hotel early afternoon and he takes a nap. Well, not anymore he is 4 now but, he used to. Then he was ready to go have some fun in the evening. It works out quite well.

 

[puffkin]

We avoid morning flights like the plague with DS because that is when he is most active. He does much better on evening flights

I would try to keep her up as well until you get on the plane and just hope that she is tired enough to sleep at that point (never worked for us but maybe you will be luckier).

 

[Mrs. Charming]

We've done that with DD 3 times. She never fell back asleep, but she was usually pretty pleasant, suprisingly. We got breakfast as soon as we got to the airport with some dry cereal in the car. She'd color on the plane, play with stickers, etc. We've tried the sleep on the plane thing to no avail, it's just too exciting. She usually ends up crashing by the time we get to the parks, and sleeps in her stroller, which is fine by us.

 

[Mom2KandK]

So apparently DH and I were thinking we were still child-free and booked the early morning flight to Orlando for our trip in a week and a half. Our flight is at 7:30am....the time our daughter usually wakes UP! The flight cost us $200 a ticket, and a change fee is $150 so we are going to keep it. The night before, I am planning to put her to bed in her outfit for the next day (sweats so it is comfortable) so we just need to change her diaper for the 4:30am pick up time to get to the airport. And hoping she sleeps in the car. And HOPING to put her chest facing in the Ergo for the airport so she may still sleep. Not sure what to do in security, hoping she will stay asleep as I carry her through. I know it will throw off her schedule but we are going to be fleixble to what she needs. Anyone else do this? Any advice?

She should be fine. She may even take a nice nap on the plane if she wakes up earlier than her usual time.
On another note...you may not be able to carry her through security. If she can walk on her own, they may have her walk through on her own.
Have a fun trip!

 

[Syrreal]

We've done early flights more than I can even count. I usually just keep DS in his pj's and change him either once we get to the gate, or when we get to the destination

 

[TLCdisneyfan]

We like the early flights with our little ones. DD usually sleeps on the plane and sometimes even in her stroller (less as she gets older). Also, feeding dry Cheerios is easy on a plane. We keep the kids in their pajamas and just bring day clothes in the diaper bag. But pack shoes the night before - we forgot DD's shoes once b/c she was in her jammies!

 

[brockash]

So apparently DH and I were thinking we were still child-free and booked the early morning flight to Orlando for our trip in a week and a half. Our flight is at 7:30am....the time our daughter usually wakes UP! The flight cost us $200 a ticket, and a change fee is $150 so we are going to keep it. The night before, I am planning to put her to bed in her outfit for the next day (sweats so it is comfortable) so we just need to change her diaper for the 4:30am pick up time to get to the airport. And hoping she sleeps in the car. And HOPING to put her chest facing in the Ergo for the airport so she may still sleep. Not sure what to do in security, hoping she will stay asleep as I carry her through. I know it will throw off her schedule but we are going to be fleixble to what she needs. Anyone else do this? Any advice?

I've never been one to fly around either of my kiddos schedules, and we almost always fly early in the morning, and we've never had a problem. In all honesty, I usually hope they stay awake on the ride to the airport and through security, so they'll be more likely to fall asleep for the flight. I really don't think it'll be a problem at all.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree that she most likely will not stay asleep but it is worth a shot! I would try to just put her sleeping in the car and maybe she will sleep till the airport. I would wait till then to change her diaper as well. Doubt she will sleep once you are there but the excitment should keep her going and maybe she will crash on the plane. Get in an afternoon nap at the resort and an early bedtime and she should be back on track!!!!!

 

[carolinagirl121]

I almost find it easier to travel with my son (10 months) early in the morning. He is still sleeping as we do our final preps and we wake him up as we are ready to walk out the door. He is awake for the time that we get to the airport and get settled and then promptly falls asleep on the plane. Not having some one "help" as you are getting ready is worth the possible crankiness!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

How long is the drive to the airport??

Ours is 1 1/2 hours away and our flight leaves at 7:00 a.m. I can put the kids in the car still asleep (we do it everyday as I start work at 6:30 a.m.). I know I won't be able to get them to sleep once we hit the airport.

Just keep it slow moving and you may be okay.

Good luck.

 

[MaleficentFan]

OP, you took the words right out of my mouth! I'm glad to see all of the reassuring posts that followed. We're flying in April with dd (who is 2)... we booked an early flight but the airline has changed the flight and times a bit. Now we're supposed to take off at 6 a.m.! I had planned on putting her clothes and shoes in our carry on so that I can just wake her up right before we leave for the airport. I figured I could change her clothes after we get to the gate. Thankfully she always sleeps on the plane whenever we fly... hopefully she'll continue that tradition this time around!

 

[Melissa&Shawn]

It is around 45 min to the airport....not too bad. She rarely sleeps in the car because of the DVD player. And is usually very good on planes (except for the 5 hours layover on an emergency landing due to fuel for an hour flight!!!!). I would LOVE to keep her in her sleeper....but do you think people would look at me funny? I guess it will be 5:30am or so (Newark airport....takes FOREVER to check bags, security, etc.) so it probably won't look too bad. Thank you for the reminder about shoes!!! We have them by the door....I bet I would forget them!!!!

 

[Syrreal]

I would LOVE to keep her in her sleeper....but do you think people would look at me funny?

There is always someone who looks at DS and says that he will be the most comfortable person on the flight. LOL
It also makes it was easier to go through security since you don't have to worry about taking their shoes off and putting them back on while still trying to get yours on and your bag of 3 oz stuff and all the "wonderful" things that one has to do when passing through security nowadays.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

There is always someone who looks at DS and says that he will be the most comfortable person on the flight. LOL
It also makes it was easier to go through security since you don't have to worry about taking their shoes off and putting them back on while still trying to get yours on and your bag of 3 oz stuff and all the "wonderful" things that one has to do when passing through security nowadays.

Same here! We hear that *every* time. Wouldn't you like to be comfy in your pajamas? I would! lol. But *that* would get funny looks!